Swimming and Diving Hosts LSU SaturdayThe meet marks the second year in a row the Crimson Tide has faced LSU as part of the Alabama Athletics' Power of Pink initiative which is sponsored by Tuscaloosa Toyota

Senior All-American Catalin Cosma won three events against Auburn to open the season.

Oct. 22, 2010

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama swimming and diving team returns to action Saturday, taking on Southeastern Conference rival LSU in the Alabama Aquatic Center starting at 1 p.m. The meet is also the Crimson Tide's second annual Power of Pink meet with the UA women wearing pink suits and caps to help raise awareness in the fight against breast cancer.

"It seems like every year Alabama and LSU have a great meet that comes down to the last relay," UA head coach Eric McIlquham said. "They're a good team that is well-coached and well-prepared. Everyone in our lineup is going to have to be ready to stand up and compete."

Saturday marks the second year in a row the Tide has faced LSU as part of the Alabama Athletics' Power of Pink initiative which is sponsored by Tuscaloosa Toyota. Swimming and diving is part of the department's overall slate of eight pink events over the course of the year. Alabama's women beat the Tigers in the first pink meet 170-130.

"Our ladies are excited to once again take part in the Power of Pink," McIlquham said. "It's something that's very important to them, and really to all of us. Anytime we can use what we do to help raise awareness about breast cancer and breast cancer prevention, then that's obviously something we want to do."

The Alabama men's team, which is coming off a season-opening win against the defending SEC Champion Auburn Tigers, opened its SEC slate a year ago by beating LSU by a score of 166.5-133.5 in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama's men won eight of 11 swimming events two weeks ago on the way to beating Auburn. Senior Catalin Cosma and junior Joe Ziegler both won two individual events and were part of the winning 800 freestyle relay as well. Freshmen BJ Hornikel, Vlad Caciuc and Alex Coci all won races in their Crimson Tide debut.

Saturday's meet will be LSU's second meet in as many days after opening the season at Auburn on Friday.